Mahishasura Mardini with the Golden Lion in Kalighat by Sonali Chitrakar

This high-energy and iconographically dense vertical painting by Sonali Chitrakar presents the definitive Kalighat depiction of Durga Puja iconography, capturing the ten-armed Goddess Durga slaying the shape-shifting buffalo demon, Mahishasura. Characterized by its monumental focal figures and bold contours, the composition masterfully handles traditional sacred iconography through a vibrant folk lens.

Kalighat painting is a traditional art form that originated in the 19th century around the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata, Bengal, practiced by the Patua community. It is celebrated for its sweeping, lyrical brushstrokes, bold color fills, and a unique blend of mythological themes with satirical commentary on contemporary life. Traditionally executed with water-based pigments on paper, this style is renowned for its rapid, expressive line-work and minimalistic backgrounds that emphasize the volume and dramatic expressions of the central figures.

The composition features the golden-skinned Goddess Durga standing powerfully at the center, her ten radiating orange arms fanning out with various weapons like silver sword, bow and arrow, chakra, vajra, spear, trishula and others. By her feet is the slain green-skinned demon king, Mahishasura, who emerges from a decapitated blue buffalo torso at the base. Durga’s face features elongated, large fish-shaped eyes and a sharp nose with a golden nose ring, topped by an elaborate crown. She is wrapped in a rich crimson-red sari beautifully detailed with hundreds of fine white star clusters and cross-hatched borders.

Durga is mounted upon her fierce, tiger-striped yellow lion companion, which fills the lower center of the canvas with an oversized head, large almond eyes, and a dark brown mane. The green demon Mahishasura is depicted mid-fall, his chest adorned with an intricate, cross-hatched silver chain mail vest and his legs wrapped in a blue garment patterned with fine white rosettes. The entire dramatic battle unfolds against a dark terracotta background speckled with thousands of fine white star points, enclosed within a clean, dark charcoal outer border.

This painting serves as the ultimate celebration of the victory of good over evil within the Bengal Shakta tradition. Through her deliberate use of intense color blocking, fierce facial geometry, and overlapping animal forms, Sonali Chitrakar strips away unnecessary clutter to deliver an exceptionally clean and powerful image of spiritual sovereignty and cosmic triumph.

Each of our artworks are hand painted by master artists across India. We provide a digital authentication certificate with this artwork signed by the artist which will be sent over email after 3-4 days of delivery of the artwork.

View Sample Here

The sizes mentioned are excluding the borders of the artwork. Frames shown are for visual representation only and are not included with the artwork.

Customisation

Most artworks can be customised in terms of colours, size and elements to fit your requirements.

For custom artwork orders, please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at wecare@memeraki.com to discuss your requirements in more detail.

Framing Services

No, we currently sell artworks unframed (unless explicitly mentioned otherwise) and do not provide framing services.

We ship worldwide.

Domestic Orders

All prices are inclusive of GST and applicable Indian taxes.

• We offer free shipping on orders above ₹1999 for all artworks, except Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri.
• A flat shipping rate of ₹499 applies to orders below ₹1999.

Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri

Shipping is charged on a per-kilogram basis, due to the delicate and bulky nature of these items.

International Orders

• A flat shipping charge of ₹4,000 applies to international artwork orders.
• Customs duties, taxes, or import charges in the buyer’s country are not included and must be borne by the buyer.
• Shipping rates for Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri artworks will be calculated based on weight.

Additonal Shipping Charges

Extra charges may be applicable for both domestic and international deliveries in the following cases:

• If the article requires additional packaging (such as a wooden crate) to ensure safe shipping due to its delicate nature.
• Custom-framed artworks.
• Artworks where shorter side exceeds 36 inches or Decor items with any side over 35 inches.
• If you request express shipping. Contact support to check availability.
• The order contains more than two different product types.

You can proceed with your purchase, and our team will contact you to confirm any applicable additional shipping charges before processing your order. Alternatively, reach out to us on WhatsApp or email, and we'll assist you in completing your purchase with the final pricing.

All artworks are handmade and couriered securely in transit safe packaging sutaible for the artwork.

Due to high demand for artworks from this artist, the delivery timelines are currently 1-3 weeks.

If you are on a tight deadline, please reach out to us on WhatsApp or email to discuss your requirements.

Once your order is placed, our team stays in constant communication with the artist to track the progress and ensure the quality of your order. You will receive regular updates from us throughout this process.

All MeMeraki artworks are hand-painted. In rare occasions, artist may face delays due to weather, health, prior commitments or force majeure. Our team will reach out to you with revised timelines in case of such delays. We appreciate your understanding and patience in such situations.

All artworks on the website are hand painted from scratch by our master artists. This makes every artwork absolutely unique and the actual colour and overall artwork may vary slightly from the artwork image posted here.